I think it's safe to assume there will be no further snow here before the
end of the year!The figures for 2004 show a total of 12 days with sleet or
snow observed to fall in Ewell compared with the average of 16.0 days(1971 -
2000).
Since the marked decrease in snow days which started in 1988, only two
years - 1995 and 1996 - have had more than the 1971-2000 mean and the
average for the years 1988 - 2004 is a modest 9.6 days. Even 1991, which
included a very cold spell in February, could only muster 13 days ( 9 of
them in February)
The most snow days ( 40 ) were recorded in 1979 and the least ( 2 ) were in
1998.
Looking at the runs supplied by Darren Prescott ,it seems highly unlikely
that the first half of January will provide any snow on low ground in
south-east England and the return of the westerlies near the turn of the
year looks reminiscent of many recent mild Januarys.
Since the beginning of the new century I can find only one winter month here
with a mean temperature at least 1 deg c below the 1971 - 2000 average and
that was December 2001.
I have already had my lawnmower serviced in anticipation of an early start
to the growing season in 2005.
Peter Clarke
Ewell, Epsom, Surrey 55m.